The Bollywood box office is gearing up for an exciting Independence Day clash as Sunny Deol’s Batwara 1947 goes head-to-head with Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2. Both films are scheduled to hit cinemas on August 14, 2026, but the pre-release battle has already produced a clear early winner.

Awarapan 2 Wins the Pre-Release Race

According to the latest advance-booking figures, Awarapan 2 is comfortably ahead of Batwara 1947. Trade data reported by The Indian Express shows that the Emraan Hashmi starrer has generated ₹2.05 crore in advance bookings, with 62,431 tickets sold across 3,684 shows. Including blocked seats, its gross advance booking figure rises to approximately ₹3.51 crore. In comparison, Batwara 1947 has sold 18,109 tickets across 3,477 shows, generating ₹53.21 lakh excluding blocked seats. With blocked seats included, its advance booking gross stands at around ₹1.61 crore. This puts Emraan Hashmi in the position of the early ‘Baazigar’—a winner before the actual box-office battle has even begun.

Why Awarapan 2 Is Creating Strong Buzz

Awarapan 2 has a major advantage: the nostalgia surrounding the 2007 cult film Awarapan. The sequel brings Emraan Hashmi back as Shivam Pandit nearly two decades after the original. Its emotional storyline, action elements and the popularity of the first film’s music have helped generate strong audience interest. The advance-booking momentum suggests that the franchise has successfully converted its long-standing cult following into theatrical interest. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh has also given Awarapan 2 the edge based on its current advance trend, while noting that the original film gained a much stronger following over the years despite not making a major impact during its initial theatrical run.

Batwara 1947 Has Powerful Names Behind It

Despite trailing in advance sales, Batwara 1947 cannot be written off. The film reunites Sunny Deol and director Rajkumar Santoshi, a combination associated with acclaimed films such as Ghayal, Damini and Ghatak. The period drama also features Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal and Karan Deol. Sunny Deol also commands a particularly strong following in mass-market centres. Trade observers believe that spot bookings and walk-in audiences could significantly change the equation once the film opens in theatres.

Which Film Will Win the Opening-Day Battle?

Current trade expectations favour Awarapan 2. Distributor and exhibitor Raj Bansal has reportedly estimated an opening of around ₹12.5–13 crore for the Emraan Hashmi film, while Batwara 1947 is expected to begin in the ₹8–8.5 crore range. However, trade experts have cautioned that these are only estimates and that spot bookings can dramatically alter the final numbers. Therefore, while Awarapan 2 has won the pre-release advance-booking race, the ultimate box-office crown will only be decided after the Independence Day weekend.

The Verdict: Emraan Hashmi Is the Early ‘Baazigar’

At this moment, Emraan Hashmi and Awarapan 2 clearly have the upper hand. The sequel has generated significantly stronger advance sales and is currently leading Batwara 1947 by a considerable margin. But Sunny Deol’s mass appeal, the Independence Day holiday and strong spot bookings could still turn the contest into a close battle.